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Drumcree: still a stalemate

Monday, 6 July 2009

Orangemen On The Garvaghy Road, July 2000

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The chairman of the Garvaghy Road Residents’ Coalition has firmly quashed any prospect of an agreement over the Drumcree parade controversy — despite the weekend initiative by First Minister Peter Robinson to meet separately with both sides in the search for a resolution.

As he watched the outward Orange parade walking to Drumcree Parish Church yesterday, GRRC chairman Joe Duffy said: “Yes, we’ll attend talks with Peter Robinson, probably within the next week. But there will be no return parade via the Garvaghy Road. It’s a dead duck. Already resolved.”

With him was the coalition’s chairman Breandan Mac Cionnaith and Sinn Fein MLA John O’Dowd. Mr Mac Cionnaith insisted: “As far as we are concerned we’re meeting Peter Robinson, leader of the DUP, and not in his role as First Minister.

“He doesn’t have the authority to set up such a meeting as First Minister without the say-so of the Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness, and that permission hasn’t been granted. Still, it’s the first time that the DUP has sat down with the nationalist community and that’s to be welcomed.

“The Orange Order has to get real in this situation. The people of the Garvaghy Road simply don’t want the parade and it’s high time they accepted the re-routing, back the way they came. That’s a perfectly good alternative.”

The Garvaghy Road ‘status quo’ mentality was not shared by the Orange side, with Portadown District Master Darryl Hewitt hopeful that — with Peter Robinson’s initiative and a new chairman at the NI Parades Commission (Rena Shepherd takes up the post on July 20) — a resolution can be found.

Speaking at the police barriers — where the parade was stopped in its tracks after the church service — he said that the Portadown District was ready for face-to-face mediation without pre-conditions, “an offer that the coalition has turned down over the past three years”.

He added: “We are not sorry to see present chairman Roger Poole retiring, and hope that Rena Shepherd is more proactive in seeking a resolution to the impasse. We’re meeting Peter Robinson in his role as First Minister and not simply as DUP leader.”

Mr Hewitt went on to say that he was optimistic that a resolution would emerge from the Robinson move and that face-to-face talks would come.

Local MP David Simpson (DUP) — who was on the parade — insisted that Mr Robinson was entirely within his rights in taking the initiative as First Minister.

“I would, of course, call on his deputy Martin McGuinness to become involved and create the shared future he keeps advocating,” the Upper Bann MP added.

It was, as predicted, another peaceful ‘Drumcree Sunday’ with some 320 Orangemen — accompanied by two accordion bands — starting off from Carleton Street Orange Hall in the centre of Portadown in blazing sunshine for the two-mile parade.

It was raining by the time the Orangemen were stopped on the abortive return parade at police lines. District Secretary David Jones handed over a letter of protest to Chief Inspector Jason Murphy, area commander of Craigavon, and added a second angry protest that the District Commander (who is on holiday in Spain) was not there to receive the protest letter.

Speaking after the parade, Craigavon Area Commander Chief Inspector Jason Murphy said: “Things have gone well. There have been no incidents. This reflects a responsibility shown by the parade organisers and marchers.”

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47 Comments

The issue is settled. There will be no parade down Garvaghy Road. The risk to community harmony is so great. Why persist with this delusion? People cannot march in areas where there is a likelihood of people being offended and where there is a grave risk to peace. This affects both Catholic and Protestant.

I have affection for the Anglican Chuch, but The Church of Ireland really must dissassociate itself completely from a vile sectarian organisation like the Orange Order.

Posted by Patrick Murphy | 07.07.09, 22:02 GMT

ok,so the sectarian orange order want to go down garvaghy road and thru other catholic areas? let me ask this folks - if the annual republican hunger strike commemoration wanted to proceed along sandy row or the shankill road would it be accepted by the protestant people in them areas? somehow i dont think so! i dont think the annual bloody sunday commemoration here in Derry would be accepted in the loyalist fountain estate either. Orange marchers on garvaghy road? NEVER NEVER NEVER!!!

Posted by Frank | 07.07.09, 18:26 GMT

I live in the north my flag is that of ireland as i live in ireland, the sight of these sectarian parades that good prodestant friends of mine also find sectarian make me wonder why are these so called good christians so bitter. they fly foreign flags all over the provence why do they have to do this. so much for a shared future. the reason why some catholics watch these parades is the same reason people go to the circus, to watch the clowns.

Posted by sean | 07.07.09, 14:58 GMT

Unbelieveable that someone should complain about my recent post. I would love to hear why they wanted it removed. Come on people, grow up!

Was it the fact that the Orange Order bars certain denominations of the Protestant faith & how this fact totally undermines anti-Catholic claims made by some contributors?

Was it my not unreasonable question as to whether "triumphalist" VE Day or 4th July celebrations should be cancelled?

Posted by mick | 07.07.09, 14:42 GMT

Haha Jeff that's a fantastic response in trying to justify the OO secterian recruitment policy.Also your accusation of the Catholic church being a secterian organisation as a 'what about' response is pretty weak also.Of course its a secterian organisation,all religions are secterian.Thats why I have nothing to do with them,thats a pretty idiotic response from you.Of course the OO is secterian if it bars anyone based on religion.How can you justify this with a straight face?Hilarious stuff Jeff

Posted by In The Name Of The Fada | 07.07.09, 11:51 GMT

Ok Paul, roads arent owned they are shared, then no one will mind if the rsidents of Garvaghy Rd march through Corcrain and Brownstown then back home through the town centre. I look forward to your reply.

Posted by Sean | 07.07.09, 10:01 GMT

mark, YES, I want you to explain in your own words what is it about the marches that is sectarian.

Not asking for much is it?

Posted by mick | 07.07.09, 09:43 GMT

I'm Scottish and have been here a couple of years ago moved over here - and we do encounter some issues with Orange walks as well. How people can say that these are not sectarian is nonsense. Outside chapel a few weeks ago, the marchers stopped outside and revved up the banging - is there a need to do this?

And look at membership criteria - Members are required to be Protestant.[28] Most jurisdictions require both the spouse and parents of potential applicants to be Protestant, although the Grand Lodge can be appealed to make exceptions for converts. Members have been expelled for attending Catholic religious ceremonies. In the period from 1964 to 2002, 11% of those expelled from the order were expelled for their presence at a Catholic religious event such as a baptism, service or funeral

Posted by Incomer | 07.07.09, 09:42 GMT

Paul "My aunt lives just off the Garvaghy Road and most of the residents welcome the parade". I think you will find that this is incorrect.
I agree with most of the comments here regarding the OO as sectarian. If you look at the rules for OO you cannot join if you're a Catholic. Indeed I believe, correct me if I'm wrong, you cannot join if you're married to a Catholic, hence it's a sectarian institution.

Posted by cd | 07.07.09, 08:43 GMT

the message is simple folks,the people of garvaghy road do NOT want, nor will they tolerate an orange march in their area,i wonder how many loyalist communities accross the 6 counties would welcome an easter sunday parade through their area,not very many i think. wake up and smell the coffee.

Posted by Frank | 07.07.09, 00:55 GMT

@Cliff,
Why was the union jack flown over Bergen-belsen? Was it a victory? Too little and too late for 6 million jews and 400,000 gypsies (not to speak of all the political enemies and russian prisoners of war (about 400,000 of them died in german camps!)).
About the orange order not being sectarian: try to apply for membership, stating that you are a roman catholic!

Posted by Jan | 07.07.09, 00:11 GMT

RB you must be a youngster The estates were built and developed like that. I used to laugh at Gracey wadling down the road in 1999 all by himself. No one stoped him.

Posted by talon | 06.07.09, 22:41 GMT

In The Name Of The Fada,

"The parade is sectarian by the very fact that only members of the Orange sect are allowed to take part in it. It bars all others, especially & most noticeably Catholics therefore it is secterian."

The Orange Order is a multi-denominational organisation which accepts as members people from any of the numerous reformed faiths. The Roman Catholic church on the other hand is mono-denominational and only accepts baptised Roman Catholics as members.

So who's sectarian?

Posted by Jeff | 06.07.09, 19:55 GMT

Honestly, I have no problem with the OO parading in a Nationalist area. The real problem for me is the music, its truely dreadful. If they promised to play an Irish reel or two then I would be the first on the pavement to welcome them.
Lol, all joking aside, have you seen the long faces on them, depressing or what? They do nothing for tourism, or image.

Posted by Voyeur | 06.07.09, 19:07 GMT

Mickey

You really need me to explain how these marches are sectarian to someone who defends the painting of kerbstones?Unfortunately you have no concept of the difference between triumphalism and culture. It's quite pathetic really. Also,I heard you paid a visit to the deep south of the U.S of A to take a few notes on how the exclusively white anglo-saxon protestant 'collectives'of that part of the world go about their own peculiar celebrations of 'culture' See anything familiar Mick?

Posted by mark | 06.07.09, 18:34 GMT

I live beside Drumcree Church. There is a service there every Sunday with very a very decent congregation. On Drumcree Sunday the crowd that all of a sudden want to go to Church is amazing - cars parked bumper to bumper the whole way out the road. I wonder where they are the other 51 weeks of the year, or if they would want to go to Church if it was in a protestant area! They bring nothing but shame on the normal weekly congregation, who as I said, are a very decent bunch.

Posted by Gillian | 06.07.09, 18:21 GMT

Let me put this into perspective as an ex resident of the Garvaghy Road. I would ask anyone to take a drive around Portadown at the minute. This is the only area in Portadown which is not completely a wash with union jacks, arches etc... It is shoved into the faces of nationalists from May to October, with the town centre a no go area with loyalists parades every Friday and Saturday night. Is it to much to ask not to see it on your doorstep too?

Posted by Deirdre | 06.07.09, 17:51 GMT

Obviously this is NOT about parading, because if that were indeed the case, it would be perfectly ok to return the way they came.
Marching is marching is marching, how one gets from point A to point B is not important as long as they can march. Right?

Posted by lecorri | 06.07.09, 17:45 GMT

What is really sad about this newspaper article is the picture (from 2000) of the young people involved. What this shows is that we have trained another generation of inbred bigots ready and willing to cause trouble by their silly marches. The majority of N.Ireland's enlightened protestants are embarrassed by the conduct of the Orange Order.

If you really have to engage in this stupidity, there is lots of room in Sandy Row and Dee Street. March till you drop!

Posted by Edward | 06.07.09, 17:01 GMT